a Memorial Day suprise!!

HAPPY LONG WEEKEND!!!! in addition to the usual friday good cheer, I have something else that will make your day... Madewell apparel is now available for online shopping!! For those who've never dabbled, Madewell a clothing company founded in Mass (woop!) back in the early 1900's that specialized in "workwear". Madewell has made a huge surge in popularity recently due to their soft, comfortable pieces in trendy florals and plaids. The clothing is well made (hence "madewell"?) and for them most part under $100. Of course I've already poured over the website, and here are some of my favs:

Belt it, wear with jeggings, throw it on over a swimsuit - the functionality and comfort of this dress embodies what makes Madewell such a success... and there are also 4 different stripe variations to choose from! (wanderlust sumatra shirtdress, $88)

I am a sucker for statement jewelery. The gorgeous blush color of this necklace, and reasonable price (for jewelery) just about makes it irresistible. This can dress up anything from a cotton tank top to your boring work clothes (crystal collage bib necklace, $88)

The sheer overlay makes this dress virtually weightless, and the open ruffled sleeves? Amazing. Throw a belt on this bad boy and you're good to go! (floaty floral dress, $158)

This season's gladiator. A great investment, I promise you'll live in them (cyprus sandal, $98)

I am a HUGE romper fan, and this one seems effortlessly cool and comfortable for the summer heat. The perfect accessory? Your tan! (lazydays romper, $78)

Enjoy, and have a fantastic long weekend!

What's better: Christmas or Wedding Season??

So apprently love is in the air. In the past several weeks I have heard of many engagements, as well as stressed out girlfriends who are trying to figure out how to finance their wedding schedules for the summer. Yes, scouring the internet for flight deals and buying endless glassware as gifts sucks, but figuring out what to wear should be the fun part! First thing to remember? Don't be afraid to invest in a nicer dress -- if you have weddings in different locations or with different circles of friends, no one will know if you repeat, just choose different accessories.

So in honor of two gorgeous girls with upcoming weddings (to attend) here are some of my favorite dresses for a summer matrimony...

One of the most important things to remember is you will be at a church or in a service at some point, so try and keep it covered. I know, I know, hemlines are on the rise, but why not try showing some shoulder instead? It's classy enough for the ceremony, and the perfect amount of skin to lure a groomsman:

Adorable dotted cotton fabric makes this ideal for an outdoor wedding, the ruffle and belt making it very figure flattering (Rebecca Taylor, shopbop.com, $325)

Liz you need to buy this one. With chunky gold jewlery? Game over. (Susana Monaco, $275)

I love this for you Addi... especially because I would borow it. Constantly. (J Crew, $168)

Wedding in Nantucket? Garden party reception? This color-blocked confection would be perfect, and has pockets to boot! (See by Chloe, $295)

Iwantthisdress. Sobad. It is heavenly. (J Crew, $298)

One of my favorite things about summer is the abundance of BRIGHT colors. Embrace not being the one in white, and go for a bold color or print:

Liz, this dress would look BANGIN on you. I'm into the pleated sleeves, skirt, and deep V -- if you got it flaunt it girrrl (Topshop.com, $80)

Addi, wear this embellished dress with your new shoes, and I would die. (Aryn K, piperlime.com, $93)

This would be a fantastic color on both of you girls, and one of my favorites as it would hide the food baby after several slices of wedding cake... (Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, piperlime.com, $189.99)

Right on the tribal print trend this summer - Pile on chunky jewlery, or dress it down with strappy grecian flats (T-Bags, $129.50)

And last but not least, stick to pastel, lace, florals & ruffles -- they'll enhance your tan, and be in style for years.

Adorable back on this studded blush dress, romantic and breezy for a hotter location (Topshop, $300...yikes)

Liz you would look fantastic in this - click to enlarge and see flower applique (Athropologie, $148)

Fitted to show off your bod, and love the ruffly shoulders (TopShop, $80)

My second time posting this dress... I'm obsessed. Wear with a boyfriend blazer if it's chilly with all that AC, and will cover you up for the ceremony (BB Dakota, $90)

Love the lace and color dip, and this dress is perfectly cut for a more conservative wedding. Wear with pearls and tan strappy heels, a hat or belt if you're bold... (Anthropologie, $288)

classic cut + funky fabric + bright bow= huge success (Anthropologie, $138)

Ladylike length with a WOW color, enhanced by the black lace overlay (Anthropologie, $188)

I hope some of these dresses were to you liking, ladies, and by all means if you need a date - I'd be happy to oblige.

Her Name is Taylor, and She's a Sequinaholic.

[Editor's note: This is not a spring trend, but a celebrity habit I felt needed to be acknowledged. Also, I love Taylor Swift in regards to music. But this isn't a music blog, now is it.]

We get it taytay swift, you like sequins. But you're an actual star now with grammy's and cma's by the boat load. Just thinking about all the high end clothing you're turning your nose up at because it doesnt resemble a disco ball makes me sick. Like to sparkle on stage? Fine. Are some of these gorgeous dresses? Yes. But wearing head-to-toe sequins everyday isn't your "signature". It's excessive.

Think I'm being dramatic? "taylor swift sequin dress" had 31,900 matches on Google. Boom.

Bored yet?

And this is only like .000001%. I did the math.

Did your stylist take the day off, Elle? Cause I think I've seen this look before....

and shame on you, InStyle. You're better than that.

Maybe Taylor will read this one day, and it will change her sparkly little life...one day. But until then, let this be a cautionary tale - try new things, mix it up - Even sequins flop when they become predictable.

T is for Texture

Time pour le Troxieme trend: TEXTURE.

Undoubtedly ruffles are everywhere, but I have started to fall in love with more original and unexpected textures. It's eyecatching and can sometimes completely transorm an otherwise simple color or sillouhette. I like the idea that the garment has been crafted, not just slapped together. And remember, texture does not always have to mean volume - it can simply be the 3 dimensional way the designer has used the fabric, like Diane Kruger's chanel skirt she wore in St. Tropez:

I have also been in love with feathered frocks for a while, and Camilla Belle (who always looks amazing) looks ethereal in this Marchesa number:

Marion Coltillard has also dabbled in feathers with this look taken right off the Ellie Saab runway:

B Lively the bombshell wore this fierce Marchesa dress at the Costume Gala a couple weeks ago. Here this texture is simply an applique, and the dress still remains super fitted:

Amanda Seyfried wore Roland Mouret to a movie premiere, with a textured look that seems to be created almost by an impressionist painter's brushstroke:

So you don't have a couture budget? Neither do I, so I'd be happy to pout along side you. And if you're up for retail therapy, I'd dive into the trend with these (quasi) affordable finds.

All of these pieces are from the H&M eco friendly line, so you'll look and feel like you're wearing flowers while being very flower power in your shoping choices! The best part? All of these pieces are under $60:

Vests are completely underrated as a great piece to mix and match with. Toss this confection over an american apparel tank and some jeans and you're right on trend:

Texture AND water color prints? Thank you, J.Crew.

Shopbop had a lot to offer on this trend. I LOVE this faux-feathered DVF miniskirt paired with a simple grey top and blazer... and it's on saaaale!

Perfect for summer with some white skinny jeans... and an affordable find at FV21! ($27.80)

For one of you who's a little more bold - try with black short shorts and ballet flats (and why not? it's only $32.80 at FV21!)

Love the beautiful detail on this Anthropologie tank:

And like I always say - if you're timid at trying a trend, the easiest way to incorporate is with accessories!! Like Badgle Mischka's amazing (on sale!) heels:

Or this Rachel Zoe approved clutch, that would spruce up even the simplest ensemble:

Fromage -- DIY: Baked Brie Bliss

Before I move on the the next trend, I have noticed that this blog has become fashion heavy, and no one likes a one-note blog.

So i've decided to share my favorite (and so easy) BAKED BRIE recipe that will be sure to keep you in fromage heaven, and invited to every classy party in need of bangin hors d'oeuvres.

Buy:

- wheel of brie. I would recommend the normal variety (although triple creme is the most delicious to eat plain) for melting purposes, and make sure to use a wheel (not slice) because it's imperative there is a rind encompassing the cheese
- 2 cannisters of Pillsbury cresents
- blackberry jam (raspberry could work too, or chutney if your particularly refined)
- honey
- brown sugar

Make:

(pre-heat oven to 350, and spray cookie sheet with PAM)
1. explode cannisters of pillsbury crescents, pinching together the serration marks so you have one large piece (depending on your size of cheese wheel, you might not need to use all of the dough)
2. place wheel of brie on top of dough
3. spread jam thoroughly on top of brie wheel
4. begin to wrap up the dough, completely covering the cheese. it should look like a thick frisbee made out of dough.
5. drizzle honey on top, and sprinkle brown sugar

6. put in oven for 25-30 minutes but this is the tricky part - you want the outside to be a golden brown, but also for the cheese to get nice and melty. SO just keep an eye on it and when you see the color right, take it out and test. Let it cool for 10 minutes before serving (so it isn't too melty and pees every where like what hapened to me once).
7. STUFF YO FACE AND FIGHT OTHERS OFF WITH YOUR KNIFE, BECAUSE IT'S THAT DELICIOUS.

Fashion -- Mix & Match? Mama Like.

So turns out working is BRU-TAL, and I am pooped by 2 pm - let alone night fall, so I will keep the babble to a minimum…

Next trend up this spring: PATTERNS, and we’re not talking polkas or plaid, but MIXING them all together.

So I’m sometimes not even sure I’ve got this trend down, lord knows it is a thin line between giving your outfits some punch, and looking like a hot mess. So here are pictures of gals who’ve made it work, and why...

(click on the pictures if you are blind/want a close up)

Try sticking to big preppy prints of the same color, the pink ribbon belt ties it all together in a bow... literally.

Blair gets it right cause she starts with one pattern (floral skirt), and then finds prints that match the colors in that skirt – the green print jacket and red print shirt both tie in with the focal part of the outfit, the gorgeous skirt skirt. The yellow bag adds an additional punch of color, and is ties in with the jacket:

TayTay Swift wears patterned tights in this Elle photo shoot to mix up her printed dress, and make her lime shoes POP:

If you are timid about giving this trend a shot, try mixing patterns with accessories first, like Rihanna’s neutral leopard heels with a floral skirt:

Or SJP’s paisley scarf on top of a printed tank (successful here cause she sticks to neutral colors)... and Tay your outfit was still cuter.

You can always try pieces with the patterns matched for you, like this amazing summer dress from shopbop.com….if you have $500 lying around that is.

This striped blazer already has mix n’ match edge with the floral pattern peeking out the sleeves… all you’d have to do is coordinate from there!

OR, try this feature on the Anthropologie website that helps do the matching FOR YOU, with great suggestions of their own pieces, and what looks great togetha:

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/category.jsp?navAction=jump&id=CLOTHES-OUTFITS-OUTFITS2&cm_re=Apr_10-_-042610littleedie-_-monochrome_shop

Honestly? Call me Chee-zee, but I think the biggest part of rocking this trend is CONFIDENCE. If you like it, others will like it. Instead of being limited by traditional “matching”, use your instinct and eye to put things together you usually wouldn’t. As long as you keep the colors in the same story, you can’t lose!!